Merchandise support device



May 2, 1967 A. ALPERT 3,317,056

MERCHANDISE SUPPORT DEVICE Filed June 29, 1965 -FE- L me 13%;:

L a [a L- J a L [Q /z L Ii] u 3 g /d i 1 EM; u n4 1 m L] l M -40 [NI/EN TOR J I 1 Q 4524mm ,4; PERT Passer H fu/orr United States Patent 3,317,056 MERCHANDISE SUPPORT DEVICE Abraham Alpert, 19941 Ardmore Ave.,

Detroit, Mich. 48235 Filed June 29, 1965, Ser. No. 467,955 16 Claims. (Cl. 211176) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a merchandise support device and more particularly to a support device having a plurality of support members mounted in alignment on a plurality of vertical members positioned in generally parallel spaced relationship.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a merchandise support device which is not only durable in construt-cion, but of substantially less cost than items which are currently available.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a merchandise support device which will permit all of the merchandise supported thereby to be visible to the prospective customer.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a merchandise support device wherein the vertical members, as well as the angular support members are adjustable.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a merchandise support device wherein the merchandise is free standing in its own package and is positioned within the support device without benefit of shelving.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention can be accomplished by the provision of a merchandise support device having a plurality of aligned vertical members, with means for maintaining said vertical members in parallel spaced relationship; a plurality of aligned grooves on the edge surface of each of said vertical members; a plurality of slotted support members on each of said vertical members, each of said slotted support members being adapted to be mounted on said vertical members so that an inner edge of said slotted support member engages one of said aligned grooves; an upwardly deformed section on one end of said support member; a free standing package positioned on the flange portion of said support member and in engagement with said upwardly deformed section to render same visible; a slight upward lift releases said free standing package from the deformed section and permits same to pass over said deformed section for quick and easy access to the mer chandise.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the present invention wherein the merchandise support members are positioned on the vertical members for the support of merchandise as shown.

FIGURE 2 is a right end view of the merchandise support device shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a free standing package, as supported by the present invention without the use of shelving.

FIGURE 4 is a merchandise support member.

FIGURE 5 is a modified merchandise support member.

FIGURE 6 is another modified merchandise support member.

FIGURE 7 illustrates a modified form of the present invention wherein the vertical members, as well as the merchandise support members are adjustable.

FIGURE 8 is a right end view of the modified form of the invention shown in FIGURE 7.

3,317,056 Patented May 2, 1967 FIGURE 9 is another modified merchandise support member.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the mvention is capable of the other embodiments and of bemg practiced or carried out in various ways. Also, the termmology or phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

With reference to the drawings, FIGURE 1 shows an elevational view of the present invention 10 wherein the merchandise support members 12 are positioned on the vertlcal members 14. The merchandise support member 12 1s illustrated in FIGURE 4, with modified forms of the support member being shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 9.

It will be noted in FIGURE 4 of the drawings that the rnerchandlse support member 12 is generally rectangular 1n configuration and has a rectangular opening 22 therein. The opening 22 is positioned substantially central with respect to outer edges thereof. Edge 24 is generally parallel to edge 26 while edge 34 is generally parallel to edge 36. Edges 28 and 38 are disposed at right angles to edges 26 and 34 and in parallel relationship to the ends 48 and 58, while end 48 has integral therewith, a flange portion 62.

Opening 22 is somewhat greater in length than the width of the vertical members 14, although the width of the opening is substantially the same as the thickness of the vertical members 14.

Looking now at FIGURE 2 of the drawings, it will be noted that the edge 68 of member 14 has a plurality of spaced grooves or notches 72 therein. These grooves or notches 72 are of the same general width as the thickness of the merchandise support members 12 and edge 38 is adapted to engage same. By such construction, the merchandlse support members 12 are merely positioned in alignment on the vertical members 14 and merchandise located thereon. In actual practice, viewing of the merchandise is not hampered or obstructed particularly by shelving, since there is none. The angulari-ty which the merchandise assumes is determined by the dimension of the opening 22, while the merchandise is removed by liftring same over the flange 62 and then permitting gravity o ac FIGURES 5, 6 and 9 illustrate modified forms of the merchandise support members. In FIGURE 5, the merchandise support member 112 is of the same general configuration as member 12. However, a second flange 168 is provided on the end of the support member opposite flange 162. With this structure, assembly can be more readily accomplished.

In FIGURE 6, the merchandise support member 212 is of the same general configuration as those two structures above described and operates in the same manner. The structure shown in FIGURE 6 is unitary and has two grooves 224 and 236 disposed beneath the surface T of the support member 212. The grooves 224 and 236 are generally open at both ends, although end 248 has a flanged stop member 262 integral therewith. The support member 212 is installed in the same manner as those units above described. Edge 238 is adapted to engage groove 272 in the vertical member 14, while the merchandise is supported on a flat pallet board, the edges of which are positioned in the grooves in the support 212.

The merchandise support member shown in FIGURE 9 is similar to the structure shown in FIGURE 4, except that pins 304 and 306 are provided in place of flan 62. The pins are adapted to engage a pair of aligned openings in the bottom of the box which has the merchandise therein. This is shown in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. The openings 404 are of rectangular configuration While openings 406 are of circular configuration. For ease of operation, the openings are located forward of the center of the box, thus release is accomplished without much movement. The pin location is also forward of the center for substantially the same reason.

While two horizontal members 16 are illustrated in FIGURE 1 for maintaining the vertical members in parallel relationship, FIGURE 7 shows the vertical members positioned by a plurality of round bars 516. Each of the bars 516 having a stop collar 518 on each side of the vertical members 514 for maintaining same in pro-determined spaced relationship. In addition, each of the vertical members 514 have grooves 72 and 72-11 on the opposed edges thereof. When the merchandise support members are positioned thereon, they engage two grooves instead of one.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that the present invention is simple, durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. It will enable a merchant to display more merchandise effectively and at. a lower per unit cost.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a merchandise support device, the combination of,

a plurality of vertical members;

means for maintaining said vertical members in spaced relationship;

a plurality of spaced grooves on the edges of said vertical members;

a plurality of slotted support members positioned on said vertical members;

one edge of each slotted support member engaging one of said grooves;

-a stop flange on each slotted support member;

said slotted support members adapted to support a package with one edge of said package engaging said stop flanges, whereby a slight lift releases said package from said stop flange for quick and easy access to the merchandise contained therein.

2. In a merchandise support device, the combination a plurality of aligned vertical members positioned in parallel spaced relationship;

a plurality of horizontal grooves on the edges of said vertical members;

a plurality of generally fiat slotted support members mounted on each of said vertical members, one edge of each of said support members engaging one of said horizontal grooves;

a flange stop member on each of said support members for retaining a merchandise package, release of a package being accomplished by lifting same over said flange stop.

3. In a merchandise display and support device, the

combination of,

a plurality of vertical members connected in parallel spaced relationship;

a plurality of aligned horizontal grooves in said vertical members;

generally flat support members;

a substantially rectangular opening in each said support member receiving a vertical member;

one edge of each support member engaging one of said horizontal grooves to form a merchandise Support means; and

means for retaining a package on said support means.

4. A device as in claim 3 wherein each support memher is generally rectangular in configuration and the opening therein is centrally positioned.

'5. A device as in claim 3 wherein the package retaining means is in the form of a flange on the end of the support.

6. A device as in claim 3 wherein the package retaining means is in the form of two aligned pins located between the ends of said support member.

7. In a merchandise support and display device, the combination of,

a plurality of vertical members;

said vertical members maintained in spaced relationship by at least two horizontal connecting members;

a plurality of grooves on said vertical members;

slotted merchandise support member mounted on one of the vertical members, one edge of each of said support members in engagement with one of said grooves.

8. A device as in claim 7 wherein said vertical members are in the form of flat bars.

9. A device as in claim 7 wherein said horizontal members are in the form of round bars.

10. A device as in claim 7 wherein each of said support members engage two grooves in said vertical memers.

11. A device as in claim 7 wherein said merchandise support member has merchandise retaining flanges on opposite ends thereof.

12. A device as in claim 7 wherein said merchandise support member is of rectangular configuration and has a generally rectangular opening therein, said opening having edges thereon which engage grooves in said vertical members for support of merchandise.

13. In a merchandise support and display device, the combination of,

a plurality of flat vertical members;

means for maintaining said flat vertical members in parallel relationship;

a plurality of slotted, generally flat merchandise support members positioned over each of said vertical members;

a plurality of aligned grooves in one edge of said vertical members;

one edge of said merchandise support member engaging one of said grooves in said vertical member to position said support member in angular relationship thereto; and

stop means on said support members for retention of the merchandise positioned thereon.

14. A device as in claim 13 wherein said merchandise support member has two grooves there-in which extend in opposite directions, said grooves being adapted to receive a pallet board therebetween for the support of merchandise thereon, one end of each groove having a stop therein to prevent the escape of the pallet board.

15. A device as in claim 7, wherein said horizontal members are in the form of flat bars.

16. A device as in claim 7, wherein said vertical members are in the form of flat bars.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,393,054 10/1921 Turner 21 160 1,736,487 10/1929 Hackley 2 l135 2,820,687 1/1958 Waring 312'350 2,995,257 8/ 196 1 DAnka 2 11-176 3,172,376 3/196-5 Halvis 108-59 3,199,683 8/1965 Graswich 211-71 OL'AUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

3. IN A MERCHANDISE DISPLAY AND SUPPORT DEVICE, THE COMBINATION OF, A PLURALITY OF VERTICAL MEMBERS CONNECTED IN PARALLEL SPACED RELATIONSHIP; A PLURALITY OF ALIGNED HORIZONTAL GROOVES IN SAID VERTICAL MEMBERS; GENERALLY FLAT SUPPORT MEMBERS; A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR OPENING IN EACH SAID SUPPORT MEMBER RECEIVING A VERTICAL MEMBER; ONE EDGE OF EACH SUPPORT MEMBER ENGAGING ONE OF SAID HORIZONTAL GROOVES TO FORM A MERCHANDISE SUPPORT MEANS; AND MEANS FOR RETAINING A PACKAGE ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS. 